Name Steve Ahern | Books Harbour Terror | |
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Grant Blackley at #RDE19 radioinfo.com.au segment 3
Steve Ahern is an Australian radio trainer, historian and international consultant in modern broadcast media. He was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2009 for his contributions to the radio industry and education in Australia.
Ahern has been active in training Australian radio industry people for the coming of digital radio, and he lectures about the future of radio in Australia.
He is also sought after as a media futurist, advising broadcasters how to adapt to the new smartphone and social media environment, in Australia and internationally. Recent speeches and presentations include how media can be useful in fighting fake news and
He works with TV and Radio broadcasters to modernize their news gathering and broadcasting techniques and consults on organizational change for various international broadcasting organisations.
Ahern founded the radioinfo.com.au website, was the Director of Radio at the Australian Film Television and Radio School for ten years and the manager of three ABC Radio stations: 3LO Melbourne, 2CN Canberra and 2NC Newcastle.
He is frequently called upon to comment in the media about the radio industry in Australia. He is the editor of the book Making Radio: A practical guide to working in radio, published in 2006, (2nd Edition 2011, 3rd Edition 2013). and a novel, Harbour Terror, published in 2008.
He has also published a range of articles and conference papers on the future of media, including how media should respond to Fake News and the importance of radio in developing countries.
Ahern continues to lecture and educate radio professionals through his firm, Ahern Media and Training and is the CEO of the International Media & Broadcasting Academy (IMBA).
In 2000 he was the founding consultant and curriculum developer for the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) and in 2012 he helped to launch Nai Media Institute, the first professional media training organization in Afghanistan. In 2014 Ahern and business partner Peter Saxon bought AsiaRadioToday.com and in 2015 he launched a new catch-up radio product called Rewind Radio. Steve Ahern holds the position of Chairman of Rewind Radio Pty Ltd, and is on the boards of several other media companies.